Burnley. Pre-match entertainment.

I don’t usually do stats but in light of the negativity around AA this week let’s start with just one ….. Arsenal are unbeaten in 22 home games. Stick that in your pipe.

Today we welcome the Pride of Lancashire, forget the billionaires down the M65 in Manchester, Burnley are a proper Lancashire club; Hovis bread, Satanic mills and Lowry landscapes. The last time I visited Turf Moor Bob Lord was still Chairman of Burnley and as he died in 1981, I guess my impressions may be a tad outdated!

LB in his youth delivering Hovis

These are tough times for Burnley. Like many clubs who scrape into the PL for a season in the limelight they and their supporters say “it is just being there which we will enjoy. Going to Old Trafford, The Emirates etc etc will be brilliant”

Sadly, the reality is different and the clubs who do not replace the managers who got them into the PL by dint of hard work are few and far between. Sean Dyche is the unlucky incumbent, seems a likeable chap who is working with a team who are obvious relegation fodder: will Burnley stand by him in what has already been a terrible start? Who knows … I hope so.

Chalobah, a Chelsea loanee has potential to be a fine player. Having Captained England at all levels he has 19 U-21 caps at the young age of just 19. Danny Ings is another fine youngster who has started to score in the PL, only 22 he was last season’s Championship Player of the Year.

No wins, just 4 points, 12 goals conceded in their last 4 games, Burnley are a banana skin for our heroes. Anything less than a resounding victory will heighten the frustration around the Emirates.

Arsenal: Once again the talk is about injuries and the defence. We have discussed this way too often and it is dull, dull, dull. Quite frankly, if Welbeck played alongside BFG and The Ox played at LB we should beat Burnley (MU is another matter). We have enough players to put out an effective defence and as the ball will be almost always in the Burnley half they will be under-employed. This is not to say that Burnley have no chance of scoring – this is an Arsenal side who have conceded first in each PL home game this season!

Given the ever expanding injury list picking a side, at least in defence is relatively easy.

Should Mr Wenger continue with the Flamini/Arteta axis at home to the bottom club in the league or be a little more adventurous? I would love to see Rosicky start – won’t happen but a nice thought. Same with Podolski and Campbell. Theo is likely to get a few minutes

Or we could go the Didit route ……

Szczesny

Bellerin BFG Chambers Monreal

Ox Ramsey Arteta

Campbell Welbeck Alexis.

Unlikely but you never know. We are more likely to kick off with Cazorla in the side despite his poor form in front of goal. Benchwise we have some quality attackers so once again we are subject to Didit’s Law…… Score one more than Burnley and everything is Hunky Dory.

Instead of the food report let me give you a little more history. Today we will look back a century to World War 1.

Many of the men from Burnley volunteered to join Kitchener’s Army – 15% of the entire male population were killed n WW1 amongst whom were the Accrington Pals. Men from all around Burnley signed up to the East Lancashire Regiment to be shipped out to France. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916, the Accrington Pals were sent “over the top.” Of the 720 men who ran towards enemy lines 584 were brought down in the first half hour of the battle. It was a tragedy which even today resonates to such an extent that there are songs, plays and documentaries written about the Accrington Pals. ( for further reading http://www.pals.org.uk/pals_e.htm)

Some of the Pals

Last weekend we struggled against an ultra-defensive Sunderland, Burnley are likely to be the same. Compresss the play, try to score from set pieces or a breakaway, above all don’t get thrashed. Arsenal should be used to such tactics, particularly at The Emirates – we should win.

Let it be So.

COYRRG

written by Big Raddy

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This entry was posted on Saturday, November 1st, 2014 at 9:37 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Practically half our registered squad is unavailable so the team picks itself.
Is AW going to rest Sanchez who on current form looks our best chance of scoring though Welbeck on his day wouldn’t be far behind him.
I would love above anyone for Ramsey to score.

Will Podolski or Campbell start ? Not likely based on this seasons line ups. Nevertheless I really think we will win and win well.

Going back to WW1 it is amazing that 100000 people are passing through daily to see the wonderful poppy display in London.

Thanks Raddy, great PM! Did we really concede first in each PL home game? That’s poor

I’m confident we’ll win, but the memory of that Carling Cup defeat is still with me, it changed our season then and I’d hate to think what it would do to us now, brrrrrrrr…perish the thought!! I’m sure Rasp is not worried as he doesn’t believe in bad luck, but I do and will never ‘go’ to any game without butterflies in my belly.

WW1 was the most cruel,of all wars, shame on all humanity. Didn’t know about the Pals, thank you for this Raddy

In view of the up-coming return leg against Anderlecht on Tuesday, I sincerely hope Wenger takes the opportunity to rest one or two of his first choice starters today.

Cazorla could do with a lay-off and I think Alexis deserves one.

So come on Arsene, try a bit of blue sky thinking, try a bit of Poldi and Campbell. You know it makes sense!! 😀

Shocking stories from the Great War abound, two boys, and I mean boys, from my village joined up in 1913, both were underage, they were shipped out to Mesopotamia (today’s Iraq) early in 1914, one was killed within months, the other was taken prisoner and died in captivity within a year.

Superb prematch Raddy. WWI was indeed a terrible period in our history – we still haven’t learnt the lessons.

We are spoilt for riches when you compare our squad and financial stature to Burnley. Good luck to them, I hope they manage to stay up and even ruffle a few feathers of the top teams – just not today 🙂

Yeah, I call it a mountain. Look at the lad’s bike, no gears. Strange photo – beautiful yet portraying such hard life of those times. Can you imagine our kids delivering bread to neighbours? Or living in houses like that? Not being able to see arsenal beat Burnley? Awful times altogether

The comments made by some people are inexplicable, and not worth attempting to correct them.

On another blog, I have come across a guy who never stops with his words of ‘wisdom’, for which read unrelenting criticism and pathetic ‘advice’ to Mr Wenger.

A decent fan, on the blog in question, encouraged the fans going to the game to cheer the lads on and not yell abuse.
Back came mouth almighty with the nonsense that if it was ‘deserved’ it was alright. The cretin.

It appears as if this lemon lives abroad and has never been to the Emirates. Ye Gods.

We are all painted with different brushes, my brother who lives in Cambridge is, unfortunately, one of the “know it all’s’ and overflows with “advice” for AW – suffice to say we have never been on good terms.

As I think back to your historical series of Posts about Arsenal, the Burnley game, today, made me think that they are an example of a club who have had their day in the sun during the early years of the 20th century, when they won the old First Division.

Then again, in the mid-1960’s, they actually were playing well enough to qualify for the European Championships (Qtr Finals, twice).

Loike many other clubs of their size, they have been sidelined by the new era, where if you do not have huge money available to spend, your role will never be anything more than to show up as canon fodder for the monied elite.

Their ground has a capacity of less than 22,000. I simply cannot see them being able to buy the type of players that will be need to stay in the PL. They are punching above their weight are are prime candidates for relegation. Which is a shame.

They play The Last Post at sunset, about 5:30 ‘ish now, so I’ll aim for that. Reminds me, we had a Gurkha Piper (bagpipes) at my fathers funeral, and he played last post when they stuck him in the ground. I was fine until that moment. Haunting sound.

A particularly poignant prose from Big Raddy as the set up to this match. This phrase ‘15% of the entire male population were killed’ is so horrific that words alone cannot show the feelings. The modern generation that lives such a comfortable and carefree life should appreciate the sacrifices of those past and present to secure those comforts. Thank you Raddy. As always, you provide a powerful preview.

And to the match. That first half was quite something. But no goal makes things nervous. The Arsenal playing that way cannot but put a smile on my face. Perhaps I am easy to please, but it was rather lovely, goal or not.

Nice penalty miss…just saying…not that certain sites have stats about bias or nothing…but just saying…..saying…[fades to whisper] lol…but Arsene is old and fossiled and what not…that the reason penalties aren’t given against Arsenal. Damn him, Arsene, stop letting our penalties not get given!

Alexis is a beast. He deserves every success he achieves, man is an example to us all. And so pleasant when not tearing through the grass like a man possessed.

I said it when weMN got him. Alexis will be our suarez/aguero.that was arsenes plan and thinking, I believe, having failed to get suarez. .

I also decided watching him in first half, BEFORE we scored, that no matter how many goals costa scores, Alexis should be player of the year in the bpl. He was everything, everywhere, willing us to score and win with his effort in attack and winning the ball back. He is a constant threat, draws 2 to 3 players to him every time, freeing up teammates, opening space, and he disrupts opponents midfield so much.

He showed most of this in barca, but definitely was held back playing with messi.

Enjoy him, players like this are so rare. Scorers come and go, like rvp, aguero, but so few PLAYERS like Alexis.

We played some great football in the first half and were really unlucky not to go in a couple of goals ahead.

Second half – even better.

Nacho has been outstanding at stand-in CB in the last two games. Oxo answered his critics with a fine performance. And the best thing about Sanchez is that his approach to the game now seems to be rubbing off on some of the others.

I first saw the stage play of The Accrington Pals back in my early 20s. It was immensely moving then and I have seen it a couple of times since. It’s impact only increases as I get older.

In World War Two they took a deliberate decision to not have “Pals’ Brigades” because of the disproportionate impact on small communities in the event a disastrous battle.

If a brigade is all but wiped out in battle and is made up of soldiers from all over, the pain is spread widely, but more thinly. If they are all from the same town – particularly a small town like Accrington – it’s a catastrophe for that community.

The ever reliable live on footy went haywire today. I missed the first ten minutes as the picture froze,as it did the whole game and then gave the score before we saw a goal (a bit like me).I also had absolutely no commentary.

Sanchez will thrive as the star player and Podolski needs game time,even if he s playing a cameo for a move.
All round a much better display and great to see Chambers score and Theo back on the pitch. Good win, three vital points,and gears us up nicely for Anderlecht.

Right now, for Santi, is “in the icebox” a better description than “off the boil”? Regardless, AW spot on in letting him play on in this match; just needs to put one in to sort things out.

In spite of the clean sheet (and Nacho did well), does the Arsenal defense consistently provide way more than its share of FFS moments per match, more than other sides’ defenses do? If so, how come? Or am I just having normal supporters’ angst?

I’ve seen all the league games Rocky except the chelsea one because I was out somewhere. Champions league are 1:45 kick off (now 2:45) Anyone who doesn’t live in the Uk there is a good site called footballorigin that has motd cl highlights and sky programmes. Not live but good to catch up

Wenger was quick to give the praise to Sanchez, who is fast becoming one of the most dangerous players in England.

He told the BBC: “It was a top performance from Alexis Sanchez. His quality is exceptional, he takes responsibility and goes at people. He fights, he can score, that is what you want from great players.”

We’ll, Sanchez has definitely grabed the game by the scruff of the neck and made the pitch his own. Quite extraordinary. Others responded, how could they not? I don’t like him scoffing Danny, but it’s up to welbeck to learn from Alexi. He reminds me of Suarez, a nice version of course

“This phrase ‘15% of the entire male population were killed’ is so horrific that words alone cannot show the feelings. The modern generation that lives such a comfortable and carefree life should appreciate the sacrifices of those past and present to secure those comforts.”

Chesney 7 – Had a nice kip
Chambers 8 – Another great audition for this super boy
Gibbs 7 – Good game, but with his ability i want more
Merts 7 – Nice. Hes very tall
Monreal 8 – Hes a bit shit, but excellent guts. Tough Spanish Bull.
Arteta & Flamini 7. Much maligned but when called upon, give everything,
Ox 7 Good perfermance from Alex. When he find composure he will be excellent
Santi 6. Bit disapointing, but wide left aint his game.
Welbeck 8 What an athlete his guy is. Noghmare to play against
Sanchez 9.75. I admit to shedding to a tear. I also had an erection

The interesting thing about today was a change in system. We went to a more conventional 442 with two holding boys, a nice bit of width, and of course Sanchez playing in and around Welbeck

I dont live in fear like some of those losers.. i am excited for the future with ozil,alexis,theo,ramsey,wilshere,sczez,mert, koz, gibbs,debuchy,ox .. im sure i left out some. Alexis is ours, and he will be bpl player of the year , maybe more than once. , . .. yes.. i am predicting it. Its working out because he is exactly what we needed, and like i said before, he was held back in barca. We are also what he needed.

Good news of the day:
– Alexis is just outstanding
– Theo is back
– Three points
– A clean sheet
– Podolski is looking sharp when called upon, which is nice
– Gibbs got an assist and Chambers a goal
– Ox is doing well in the middle of the park

Bad news of the day:
– Another insipid performance from Santi
– Chelsea is favored by ref decisions and Fabregas is just tallying assists for fun there 😦
– Southampton keeps on their incredible run

Evening all by the way, good win today, great pre match Raddy, hope Burnley will stick by the manager, as it appears the Chairman has looked at a season in the PL as a massive financial impetus for the club rather than spending the money in the hope of clinging onto survival before the foundation of the club is sound.

This is why i have a bit of a dislike of everyone’s favourite owner Steve Parrish, he has spent a lot of Palace money on staying in the league, they were close to administration a few years back, if they’d stuck by Holloway, not allowed him to spend all over the shop and just accept the financial security plus a season of having a go they would have been ok for a few years, if they go down this season they will not necessarily have the financial strength to make it count in the Championship.

Just seen the Chav penalty….think that wouldn’t have been given away from home. Hazard is running with the ball but jumps in front of the defender and creates the contact, the defender doesn’t alter his line of direction just braces himself for the impact of Hazard. Defenders need to be very clever to get out of the way of the contact he creates.

Looks like we all have written Ozil off already. Very strange, only a while ago we all had umlauts above our names, salivating at his sight and admiring, admiring, admiring. So what happened? Is he really too good for Arsenal?

Micky – why is ms Lamley unpopular? I thought she won the post war battle for the Gurkhas

Ha ha, but weirdly appropriate comment.
The friend who told me that he’d heard Mesut was off, now works for a large sports marketing company, but years ago was in the Black Watch, and told me a true story you’d love. He was in fact on sas selection, and during the evasion course which lasts a week, he arrived at a checkpoint with a mate. His mate was given a live chicken, while he got a live rabbit. They were both starving and freezing. His mate ate the chicken, while he kept the rabbit inside his coat, alive, to keep him warm. True story 🙂

Thought you might. Reckon you like tough men who also like fluffy animals 🙂

Ok, as briefly as I can
Traditionally, two biggest Nepalese income streams: tourism and Gurkha pensions. Pensions small by uk standards, but large by Nepalese standards. Ex Gurkhas would retire to their villages as revered and respected members of the community, and many of their children could then afford to go to Universities in Kathmandu or India. Now many have moved to the UK bringing large extended families extracting that wealth from Nepal. They live in small tight communities in places like Peterborough where their English is poor and they are racially abused and don’t integrate. These ex soldiers now have crap jobs like night security guards, club bouncers and so on.
Gurkha Rifles are a unique case in the British army, as the only non English speaking regiment, and it is the English officers who have to assimilate to their way and earn their respect and customs. First thing is learning their language, and then doing the “gold run” as it’s called ie delivering pensions. Moving through the hills, speaking only Nepalese, and staying in the villages.
I could go on,but you get my drift. We have to remember, that the reality is Gurkhas are a mercenary army, whether for the British or Indian governments.
They’ve already suffered from cutbacks, losing two battalions, and if they become too much of a financial burden on the uk, they’ll be axed altogether

The thing is, Micky, that the Gurkhas tried so hard, and rightly so, to be treated financially the same as other British army soldiers (altho that was many times more than the average wage in their own country.

Next was to be allowed to stay in El Dorado (UK) and have found it is not all that it was cracked up to be, It is a shame and difficult to know what anyone can do.

RA 🙂 I know this guy from Ukraine, ex Russian army officer who is now working as a builder in London. He told me he has that obsession where he blames absolutely everything on the Ukrainian government. I laughed and asked him how can he blame cutting his arm while fixing my roof the other day. Now that was too easy for him – if not for the crap government he wouldn’t have to fix fooling roofs 🙂 it is therefore safe to blame Wenger for everything

I was close to getting lucky, had a chat with a lovely woman in the bar. Looked as if she had a fit body underneath her vest but just a bit younger than me, and just a bit too wrinkly 🙂 I’m sorry but I just can’t, no matter how willing they may be. I will have to be patient and wait for a slighly younger bird comes along. Patience is a virtue. In the meantime, this is my Sunday morning listening with my glass of wine and goats cheese: